RADIO & Socialization - Blog #5

Lack of socialization is the cause for Radio's daily behavior before he is taken in by Coach Jones and the students at Hanna High School. Radio would walk around town and along the train tracks in the woods every day with his shopping cart containing his things (most importantly, his radio). He was content to be on his own with his radio; he didn't look up much when he came into contact with others, and he listened much more than he spoke. As a result of his incapability to socialize, Radio was very lonesome but didn't really feel like he was missing anything because solitude was all he really had ever known (especially with his mom at work all the time). Radio was very hesitant to socialize with Coach Jones and the football team at first because he had very little experience with socializing before this time. He was obedient and helpful basically right off the bat, but it took him a while to really warm up to the football team and coaches. The first moment we really see him starting to socialize with Coach Jones and the assistant coach is when the assistant coach offers him a burger and soda. Radio gladly accepts the meal and happily chows down, with the assistant coach's radio right beside him. Both coaches are pleased to see Radio's face light up with a genuine smile. It is not long before we can tell that Radio looks up to both coaches and trusts them; it is also clear that Coach Jones becomes a true father figure to Radio. Radio begins to learns the in's and out's of acceptable behavior at school, on the football field, and in public with the help of Coach Jones and a few misunderstandings here and there. The emergence of socialization in Radio's life wasn't a walk in the park; he was so trusting of the football players and loyal to their wishes that, for example, he once entered the occupied girls' locker room as a result of a specific player's trickery. Coach Jones really gained my admiration especially at this point in the movie when he confronted the boy, who eventually became one of Radio's biggest fans. By the end of the movie, it is evident that Radio has become very socialized, capable of understanding right from wrong, interacting with many different types of individuals, verbalizing and dealing with his emotions and feelings, and winning the hearts of an entire community. I truly enjoyed this film and was inspired by the story. Tears came to my eyes at the very end when the real-life Radio was shown and when he hugged the real-life Coach Jones. It made me so angry to see some of the players blatantly take advantage of Radio's handicap to humiliate him, and Frank's efforts to get rid of Radio infuriated me. The acceptance of the community and the football team is truly admirable and heartwarming; more stories like these need to be heard in order to inspire the rest of us to do something similar for those in need in our communities. Radio was absolutely lovable, and Coach Jones' strength, perseverance, dedication, and compassion really touched me.